Camera which records positional data of GPS unit

• US 6,222,985 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyake, Izumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONUAKU, CHRISTOPHER O
• Application Number:
  US09/014,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/38, 386/117, 348/3, 348/9, 348/144, 348/207, 348/211, 348/232, 348/239, 348/350, 348/371, 348/730, 348/540, 358/906, 358/909.1, 455/296, 455/310, 342/367.12, 342/357.06, 714/819, 714/822, 371/69.1
• US Class Current: 386/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00031 Testing, i.e. determining the result of a trial H04N1/00029 takes precedence; using test signals for transmission mode changing H04N2201/33371
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0005 in service, i.e. during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00068 Calculating or estimating
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00076 locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/804 : involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A camera which records positional data, which is obtained by a GPS unit during photographing, and image data on a memory card. The camera receives the positional data representing the photographing place from the GPS unit, and records the positional data and the image data on the memory card. While the GPS unit is measuring the position to obtain the positional data to be recorded, an image pickup circuit including a CCD sensor, etc. which converts image light into an image signal, a recording circuit for recording the image signal on the memory card, an LCD monitor which is used as a view finder, a strobe unit and a printer are halted.

Claims

1. A camera for optically or electrically recording an image representing a subject on a recording medium when a shutter is released, the camera comprising:

measurement data receiving means for receiving measurement data obtained by a GPS unit which is connected to the camera or which is built in the camera, said measurement data receiving means receiving at least first measurement data before said shutter is released, and second measurement data in synchronism with manipulation of a shutter release switch;

first deciding means for deciding whether the second measurement data, received by said measurement data receiving means, has an error or not; and

recording means for recording the second measurement data on the recording medium when said first deciding means decides that the second measurement data does not have an error, and for recording the first measurement data on the recording medium when said first deciding means decides that the second measurement data has an error.

2. The camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

second deciding means for deciding whether the first measurement data, received by said measurement data receiving means, has an error or not; and

warning means for warning that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data, when said second deciding means decides that the first measurement data has an error.

3. The camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said measurement data receiving means sequentially receives more than two pieces of measurement data from said GPS unit, and regards one of the pieces of measurement data as the first measurement data when the more than two pieces of measurement data match.

4. The camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said first deciding means compares the first measurement data with the second measurement data, and when a difference between a position indicated by the first measurement data and a position indicated by the second measurement data exceeds a permissible level, said first deciding means decides that the second measurement data has an error.

5. The camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said first deciding means decides that the second measurement data has an error, when the second measurement data transmitted from said GPS unit indicates that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data.

6. A camera comprising:

image pickup means for forming image light representing a subject on a light receiving surface of an image pickup element, and for converting the image light into an image signal;

measurement data receiving means for receiving measurement data obtained by a GPS unit which is connected to the camera or which is built in the camera;

a battery for supplying each part of the camera with electricity, said battery being built in the camera;

a power input terminal for connecting to an AC adapter to supply each part of the camera with electricity through said power input terminal;

detecting means for detecting whether the electricity is supplied to said power input terminal or not;

recording means for recording the measurement data received by said measurement data receiving means and the image signal obtained by said image pickup means on a recording medium, when said detecting means detects that the electricity is not supplied to said power input terminal; and

signal output means for outputting a signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data, when said detecting means detects that the electricity is supplied to said power input terminal.

7. The camera as defined in claim 6, further comprising at least one of:

warning means for warning that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data, when said signal output means outputs the signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data;

prohibiting means for prohibiting said GPS unit from obtaining measurement data, when said signal output means outputs the signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data; and

means for controlling said recording means to record measurement data which was previously received by said measurement data receiving means, when said signal output means outputs the signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data.

8. A camera for optically or electrically recording an image representing a subject on a recording medium when a shutter is released, the camera comprising:

measurement data receiving means for receiving measurement data obtained by a GPS unit which is connected to the camera or which is built in the camera;

a color temperature sensor for measuring color temperature;

deciding means for deciding whether the color temperature measured by said color temperature sensor is generated indoors or not;

recording means for recording the measurement data on the recording medium, when said deciding means decides that the color temperature measured by said color temperature sensor is not generated indoors; and

signal output means for outputting a signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data, when said deciding means decides that the color temperature measured by said color temperature sensor is generated indoors.

9. The camera as defined in claim 8, further comprising at least one of:

warning means for warning that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data, when said signal output means outputs the signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data;

prohibiting means for prohibiting said GPS unit from obtaining measurement data, when said signal output means outputs the signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data; and

means for controlling said recording means to record measurement data which was previously received by said measurement data receiving means, when said signal output means outputs the signal indicating that said GPS unit cannot obtain measurement data.